Steering apparatus for sleds



Nov. 11, 1952 J. w. GRENIER ,6 7,

f STEERING APPARATUS FOR SLEDS Filed Sept. 2, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l III III/III/IIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII czfinventor Joseph 1 Nov. 11, 1952 'J. w. GRENIER STEERING APPARATUS FOR SLEDS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 2, 1949 RIF- on mm i Inoentgr Joseph wll/l'l firemen Attornegs Filed Sept. 2, 1949 NOV. 11, 1952 J w, GRENlER 2,617,659

STEERING APPARATUS FOR SLEDS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 llwlllllllK-i ll Inventor Joseph wll/rld Attorneys *UNITED STATES PATENT err-ice STEERING APPARATUSTG R SLEDS 'Joseph Wilfrid Grenien GifEard, Quebec, Canada Application septeniber2,'1949;Serial No.-113; 745

2 Claims.

1 A V Thepresent invention relates to "endless track traction vehicles and 'more particularly to an endless-tracksnowmobile who used 'as'a' prime mover for sleighs.

In snow covered areas, considerable use is-made of dog-sleighs resultingin avery limitedservice in the matter of speed and 'enduran'ce'as compared to a mechanical prime mover.

Accordingly the main object of the present invention is to provide "a motor vehicle specially adapted for traction of'dog sleighs over snow covered areas.

Another object of the present invention is to provide considerably improved means for load moving over snow covered areas.

Another important object of'the present invention is the provision of means ina snowmobile whereby it cannot become snowbound.

Still "another important object of this invention contemplates a snowmobile of such dimensions and weight as to be easily handled'in narrow trails and easily lifted by hand over obstacles.

A further objection of the present invention is the provision in a vehicle of the character described, of flexible means to negotiate a rough terrain in a smooth and easy manner.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide driving means for a snowmobile which may be easily understood and'handled by dog or horse drivers.

Another object envisages a vehicle of the character described which is simple, rugged, reliable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

The foregoing and other important objects of the present invention will become apparent during the description to follow.

As a non-limitative example, and for purposes of illustration only, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation along line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the snowmobile;

Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 showing how the front portion of the vehicle is pivotable to suit the terrain and showing the rear of the vehicle in section;

Figure 7 is a detailed side elevation of a, driving handle; v

Figure 8 is a section along line 8-8 of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is a detailed view of an adjustable front wheel of the wheel train;

Figure 10 is a longitudinal fractional section of the front part of the vehicle;

Figure 11 is an enlarged section of the linkage of the ski train to the vehicle;

Figure 12 is a partly sectional side view of the shock absorber shown in Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a plan view of the ski'traintaken just below the unkageor the same to the vehicle;

"Figure 14' is a view: similar to Figure "l3showing the ski train in {position -for a turn;

Figure 15 is aplan view of aiportion of a track;

Figure'lfi is a sectionalongline"IE-l6 of Figure15;

Figure 17 isasection along line 'l'I--l'1- oflFigure15;

Fi'g'iirel8 is an elevationo f one of the driving spur"wheels,"showing the track in section.

Ref err-ing" to 'thedrawings, wherein similar-reference characters represent corresponding. parts throughout, the vehicle, generally indicated by 4i in "Figure l is driven by a driver B and pulls 1 a sleigh partly shown at C. I

The vehicle'o'fthe invention comprises arectangular i'plat'formiio mounted over i the traction means" generally indicated by D and supporting a conventional..gas engine'E.

To th'e frofit edge of the platform il is hingedly secured 'for' vertical arcuate movement a front section "2| to which is hingedly secured a pair of skis '22 in a manner described hereafter,

The gas engine E, provided with suitable transmission means,- drives through-suitable chains and sprocket wheels '23 housed'in a gear -box-24, a sprocket wheel2'5centrally-secured to the -propellirig axleifi at the rear of the vehicle.

A drivers seat "2! is'tastened-to-the-top of said gear box' 24 behind the ehgi'ne, at-the rear of the vehicle. Thusthe weightof the vehicle and'of the driver is mainly located over the-tracks for added t'raotion and turning ease, and for lessened danger or the vehicle front becoming snowbound. "The traction means consists in a pair ofitracks 28 laid over a plurality of pairs of supporting wheels 29 provided with rubber tires and freely mounted on parallel crossaxles' 30. These axles 30 are fixed atboth ends to two parallel beams 3| secured -tothe bottom of the pla-tform Zfl by means of tie'bars32.

The track- 'fl are driven byengaging azpair of spur wheels 3 3- secured to the common propelling axle 26. These spur wheels 33 haves-slightly smaller diameter than the supporting wheels- '29, while their axlezli is' ca'rried on top of the beams 3| to normally prevent" the con-tact of said spur wheels with the ground for longer life.

The tracks themselves comprise parallel endless flexible belts 3'4 preferablymadeofrubber and held' together by a plurality tr arched elements 35 suitably spacedforen-gagement of the spur-wheel teeth (see Figures 15%18), 'Ihese elements 35 have a U-shaped cross-section in their centre portion and -a' right angle fiproj ection 36 onpneside.

Each successive arched element is -f'a stened-to the track belts in su-cha manner as-to provide projections '36 on alternate sides of, thetrack.

3 Thus additional gripping action is obtain-ed without sacrificing the stability of the system.

The front section 2| of the vehicle, hinged to the platform 20 at 31, is checked in its downward movement by means of a shock absorber. This shock absorber comprises a cylinder 38 hinged at its head to a bracket 39 fastened to the underside of the platform 20. A piston 40 is slidable inside said cylinder being checked in its inward movement by a coil spring 4| inside said having its free end hingedly connected to one of a pair of angle brackets44 fastened to the underside of the front section 2| of the vehicle.

It is apparent that this shock absorber can take a great amount of punishment specially when the skis are lifted by an obstacle because the chain is a much stronger stop than theflange 45 at the free end of the cylinder. The cylinder itself may be of much lighter construction being exposedto relatively small stresses.

The skis 22 are maintained in parallel position by being pivoted at the bolts 46 to the ends of two parallel cross-beams 46 of equal length. The rear cross-beam 45 is attached to the section 2| by means of a central verticalpin 41 secured to the rear cross-beam and pivoted to a flexible U-shaped element 48 preferably made of rubber or leather and pivoted to the brackets 44 by means of rivets 41a. Element 48 provides a flexible universal link between the skis and the vehicle for easier going over a rough terrain;

The skis are turned about bolts 46' under the action of two steering handles 49 pivoted on pivot 49' for vertical arcuate movement at the free ends of a pair of parallel tubes 50 secured to the platform 20. These handles are suitably spaced from the drivers seat for easy reach.

Each driving handle has a projection connected to the opposite ski by means of flexible cables 52. These cables are slidable inside the tubes 50 and inside further conduits 53 fastened to the section 2|, and finally pass through suitable holes in said section for attachment to the front portion of the skis. Flexible tubes 54 connect the tubes 50 and the conduits 53 at the hinge 31. I p

From the foregoing arrangement, it is apparent that the skis turn' towards the side of the handle which is lifted and moreover, the cables 52 will exert a pull substantially at right angles to the skis 22 during their turning movement, as shown in Figure 14, thereby minimizing the pull necessary at the handles 49 without sacrificingto the speed of the turning operation. It should be noted that the turning movement of the skis 22 will be limited by the pivotal movement of the steering handles 49 about their pivot 49. Normally the skis 22 willno-t turn about the central pin 47. 7

Referring to Figure 10, it is seen-that the skis are maintained in their upright position by a reinforcing angle plate 55 secured to the inside faceof the ski and in slidable contact with the cross-beams. V

As shown in Figure 8, the skis have a T-shaped cross-section and, for better directing action, they are provided with longitudinal guide tubes 56 secured to their running face.

v The tension of the tracks. is made adjustable by'means of the arrangement best shown in 4 Figure 9. The ends of the front wheel axle 30' pass through a longitudinal slot 5! made in the wheel supporting beams 3|, and are adjustably secured by means of the eye-bolts 58 retained by the nuts 59.

From the above description, it is apparent that 7 this snowmobile may be substituted for sleigh in the northern areas.

dogs of the type actually used for pulling sleighs This vehicle will negotiate the most difficult terrain whilst it may attain speeds comparable to those of an automobile on a highway, when riding over flat grounds.

Because the power take-off comprises only the sprocket wheel 25 and its associated drivin chain, the spacing of the tracks may be made very small indeed, leaving no possibility of the snow .piling under the vehicle as so often occurs with standard snowmobiles.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is understood that various modifioations of the elements may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a snowmobile having a chassis, steering means comprising a pair of parallel skis, two spaced parallel cross-beams pivotally mounted at their ends on the middle portion of said skis, a pin projecting from the middle portion of the rear cross-beam, a flexible U-shaped member secured at its free ends to the underside of said chassis, said pin connected to said flexible member thereby providing the only attachment between said chassis and said skis, a pair of steering handles, a pair of supporting members for said handles mounted on said chassis and to which said handles are hingedly connected for vertical arcuate movement, a projection on said handles and cables connecting said projections of said handles to the opposite skis forwardly of said cross-beams, so that the skis will turn towards the side of the handle being pulled.

2. In a snowmobile having a chassis steering means comprising a pair of parallel skis, two spaced parallel cross-beams pivotally mounted at their ends on the middle portion of said skis, a pin projecting from the middle portion of the rear cross-beam, a frame section hingedly mounted for vertical arcuate movement at the front of said chassis, a flexible U-shaped member secured at its free ends to the underside of said frame section, said pin connected to said flexible member thereb providing the only attachment between said chassis and said skis, a pair of steering handles, a pair of supporting members for said handles mounted on said chassis and to which said handles are hingedly connected for vertical arcuate movement, a projection on said handles, and cables connecting said projections of said handles to the opposite skis forwardly of said cross-beams.

' JOSEPH WILFRID GRENIER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,001,113 Yach Aug. 22, 1911 1,075,465 Denney Oct. 14, 1913 1,223,210 Smith Apr. 17, 1917 1,267,385 Crooks May 28, 1918 1,530,223 Young Mar. 17, 1925 2,419,522 Acton Apr. 29, 1947 

